Painting with toddlers

[debknechtel]

All kids love to paint even little ones and especially finger painting. When I am working with little ones and I am woried about them putting hands with paint in their mouths I use pudding as an alternate paint source. Then if the kids put hands in their mouths I don't have to worry...chocolate pudding is the favorite here.

I have also used shaving cream and food coloring as an alternative.

If you are worried about paint in your house whay not take the painting outside. In winter I take squirt bottles filled with food coloring and a little water and we squirt our designs on the fresh snow.....the kids always have a blast. In the summer I also tak it outside . We tape big pieces of paper to the garage and let the kids go wild.....I have them wear bathing suits and as long as you are using a tempra paint they can paint each other too. Then we have a hose off to clean up and cool down!


What are some of the fun things you have done or used to paint with kids?


Hugs debbie

[hemlynne]

My kids used to be allowed to paint in the bath as a treat. The shaving cream/food colour was good, or just even the paint. As long as the bath and tile surface are in good condition the paint washes off easily and was always encouraged as a fun part of the activity.

[janelle]

We had a "snow day" last week, so I taped off the kitchen with huge sheets of paper, dressed the kids in their painting clothes, took their socks off and gave them pans of paint. Their imaginations really took off. Some were walking through it, some were rolling in it, it was a blast. The 6 kids are between 2 and 4 years old. It was messy and exciting---something I will do again for sure

[Lee]

Deb,
Never would of thought to use pudding. I guess I have been lucky that none of the kiddos have attempted to put paint in their mouth.

We dont really do anything exciting but sit around the table and paint away. I bought a nice big set of brushs at Walmart its funny how well they behave with paint.

Janelle, you are one brave woman! I admit I would be to worried about that mess.

[RobertaD]

When my youngest was in Early Intervention through a county agency she participated in an "Oral" class. She was the token eater her job was to show the other kids that food was okay to eat and it tasted good.

They used celery with the leaves still on to paint pudding on paper. Then they were to tickle their lips the the celery leaves and taste the pudding. They also crushed berries with their hands and used them as finger paint.

Cool Whip is a good edible 'paint' which you can change the color by adding kool-aid or jello powder.

Roberta

[janelle]

Lee--I must admit that I had to overcome my neat and clean "tick". I kept telling myself, it all washes off, it all washes off. In the end, I'm so glad we did it, the kids still talk about it, and the clean up wasn't much more than a normal day of painting. (Hence the taping of the kitchen!!!)

Roberta--great idea with the cool whip--I've only used that as "toothpaste" during dental health week to brush some fake teeth clean. I'm going to have to try it as paint.

I've use shaving cream before, that was fun and it made the kitchen smell all manly!

Another switch from normal indoor painting is to tape a big piece of paper to the fridge, dishwasher, stove, or an easily washable surface and let the kids paint like real artists. They enjoy standing up!

[debknechtel]

I have to say i have not been brave enough to do that in my kitchen!!!!

Great ideas everyone


Hugs Debbie

[ofan1967]

I have to say that the kids love to paint with pudding and shaving cream. Boy have we had some baths or showers after the shaving cream ordeals, but they have a blast. Of course they had to be the more mature school aged children that made the hugest mess. Also shaving cream cleans the table as they are using it and it does smell nice afterwards.

In college we also used plenty of house items. What about potatoes, carrots, celery, apples, oranges (although a little juicy), peppers, roasted peanuts, almost any food. We also used kitchen gadgets like forks, a seive, a straw, and potato mashers. What about thread spools or anything that a child can hold onto. Sponges are fun too. You can paint with just about anything! Let your imagination fly.

Tammy

[Candy]

I have started painting with all my grandchildren when they were all in the high chair yet. We use non -toxic craft paint and i have been lucky enough to not have gk's that eat paint. I have pictues of a few of them painting my face. All I can say is I'm glad I wear glasses(to protect my eyes).LOL I also hve a couple framed and hung on the wall. When my oldest gd was under 2 she finger painted a page that looked like a row of pigs on there hind legs dancing across the page.LOL Maybe you have to have a good imagination....LOL I love painting.

[Lee]

Candy, Good to see you again

Evan came home with a great fingerpainting of himself and his dog! he loves drawing his house, his dog and himself.